‘No alert, no sitting!’ NASS staff reject Saraki’s offer

OrderPaperToday- The intervention of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, in the ongoing picketing of the National Assembly has been rejected by the union.

The workers who are aggrieved over the non implementation of the consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) shut down the National Assembly.

Addressing the workers, Saraki who was accompanied by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Majority leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila reiterated the National Assembly’s commitment to working conditions of the workers.

The Senate President offered to speak with the management of the National Assembly, and asked the workers to give him till Friday. To his chagrin, this suggestion was greeted with shouts of “no alert, no sitting.”

However, Saraki said that he can still meet with the management of the National Assembly today.

“Let me make a commitment on behalf of the entire leadership of the National Assembly that we are all on the same side. It is our interest to ensure good mental condition of service and better working environment and we are fully committed to this. We will work tirelessly to make sure the conditions you have listed are met.

“As the leadership of the national assembly, the responsibility lies on us to address these. Regarding the condition of service.

“Regarding the CONLESS, let me assure you that we are on the same page to ensure the implementation. We are not in direct control of the issue but we have asked your leadership to give us from now till Friday.

“What I am committing to you alongside the leadership is that we must find money to ensure the implementation of your demand. But for us to find a solution, we must be able to sit down and hold a meeting. We want you to be paid but we must be able to sit down and discuss with the management on how to go about this. You should give us time to hold a meeting.

“If you allow us, the report on the condition of service will be considered immediately by the two chambers so that we can pass that immediately. We want to meet with you and communicate to you on the way forward but for that to happen, we must be able to sit.”